**Executive Summary**
The Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs shared details regarding the status of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) in Telangana and Gujarat in Lok Sabha. As of February 5, 2026, this includes the number of sanctioned, operational, and under-construction EMRSs, as well as funding allocated over the past five years. The information was in response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 945.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Funding:**
* Rs. 73097.22 lakh has been released to and utilized by the state government of Telangana.
* Rs. 59016.51 lakh has been released to and utilized by the state government of Gujarat.
* **EMRS Features:**
* Each EMRS has a capacity of 480 students (Classes VI-XII) on a 15-acre campus.
* Provisions include digital classrooms, science laboratories, sports facilities, smart boards with reliable internet, and indoor/outdoor game facilities.
* **Staffing:**
* NESTS conducted a direct recruitment drive for 10391 posts through ESSE-2023 and staff selected have been posted in various EMRSs.
* State Governments have been advised to depute staff to EMRSs.
* State EMRS Societies can engage guest teachers and non-teaching staff via outsourcing/local engagement.
* **EMRS Establishment Guidelines:**
* EMRSs are set up in blocks with over 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons (2011 census).
* Construction timeline: 24 months for plain areas, 30 months for LWE/Hilly/NE areas (after encumbrance-free land).
* **Challenges:**
* Vacancies in teaching/non-teaching staff, availability of encumbrance-free land and forest clearance issues can cause delays.
* These issues are being addressed via meetings with concerned authorities and direct recruitment.
* **Annexure Data (EMRS Status):**
* Telangana has a total of 23 sanctioned EMRSs, all with land made available. Of these, 22 are functional, and 1 is under construction.
* Gujarat has a total of 47 sanctioned EMRSs, with 44 having land made available. Of these, 26 are functional, and 18 are under construction.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: State Governments of Telangana and Gujarat**
* **Impact:** Responsible for utilizing allocated funds for EMRS establishment and operations, providing encumbrance-free land, and addressing forest clearance issues.
* **Action Required:** Continue utilizing funds, address land/forest issues, and support staffing through deputation and collaboration with NESTS.
**Stakeholder: NESTS (National Education Society for Tribal Students)**
* **Impact:** Oversees direct recruitment of staff and advises State Governments on staffing strategies.
* **Action Required:** Continue direct recruitment efforts and advise State Governments.
**Stakeholder: Tribal Students**
* **Impact:** Benefit from improved access to quality education through EMRSs.
* **Action Required:** N/A
**Stakeholder: State EMRS Societies**
* **Impact:** Empowered to engage guest teachers and non-teaching staff.
* **Action Required:** Utilize this empowerment to fill vacancies and maintain academic operations.
Key Entities Referenced
Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs): A scheme to provide quality education to tribal students. This document details the status of EMRSs in Gujarat and Telangana.
NESTS: National Education Society for Tribal Students; responsible for direct recruitment and advising state governments on staffing EMRSs.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The central government ministry responsible for the EMRS scheme and its implementation.
Gujarat: One of the two states specifically mentioned in the document, regarding the operational status of EMRSs.
Telangana: One of the two states specifically mentioned in the document, regarding the operational status of EMRSs.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
EMRSs IN GUJARAT AND TELANGANA
Posted On: 05 FEB 2026 2:13PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey informed Lok Sabha today that the details
of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) sanctioned/ operational/ under-construction in Telangana
and Gujarat, district-wise are given at Annexure.
During last five years, an amount of Rs. 73097.22 lakh and Rs. 59016.51 lakh has been released to and
utilized by the state government of Telangana and Gujarat respectively.
All the EMRSs having capacity of 480 students from Classes VI to XII and the campus with the area of 15
acres have the provision of digital classrooms, science laboratories and sports facilities. Smart boards with
reliable internet connectivity and lab equipment for different subjects apart from facilities for indoor and
outdoor games have also been provisioned.
NESTS carried out its first drive for direct recruitment of 10391 posts through ESSE-2023 and staff
selected have been posted in various EMRSs including Telangana and Gujarat. In addition to the direct
recruitment, NESTS also has advised State Governments to depute staff on deputation. Further, State
EMRS Societies are empowered to engage guest teachers against vacancies, if any, and non-teaching staff
on outsourcing basis/local engagement, so that academic activities are not hampered.
As per existing EMRS scheme guidelines, EMRSs are set up in blocks having more than 50% ST
population and at least 20,000 tribal persons (as per census 2011) to provide quality education to tribal
students in their own environment. The total construction period of EMRS is 24 months for plain area and
30 months for LWE/Hilly/NE Areas after encumbrance free land is provided by the respective state
government. The availability of encumbrance free land and forest clearance issues apart from the
vacancies of teaching and non-teaching staff are some of the hurdles in completion and operationalization
of EMRSs. The land and forest issues are resolved through meetings with the concerned authorities.
Necessary steps to address the issue of vacancies of teaching and non-teaching staff have also been taken
over the past few years through direct recruitment by NESTS as well as authorizing State governments to
engage them on deputation or outsourcing. These efforts would enable timely operationalization of
EMRSs.
ANNEXURE AS REFERRED IN PART (A) OF THE REPLY TO LOK SABHA UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO. 945 FOR 05.02.2026 RAISED BY SHRI ARVIND DHARMAPURI AND SHRI
DHAVAL LAXMANBHAI PATEL REGARDING “EMRSs IN GUJARAT AND TELANGANA”
The details of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) sanctioned/ operational/ under-
construction in Telangana and Gujarat, district-wise
State Name of District EMRS Functional Completed Under
Sanctioned/ Construction
Land made
availableTelangana Adilabad 3 3 3
BhadradriKothagudem 7 7 7
Kamareddy 1 1 1
Khammam 1 1 1
KomaramBheemAsifabad 1 1 1
Mahabubabad 5 5 4 1
Mahabubnagar 1 1 1
Nagarkurnool 1 1 1
Nizamabad 1 1 1
RajannaSircilla 2 2 2
Total 23 23 22 1Gujarat Arvalli 2 2 2
Banas Kantha 3 3 2 1
Bharuch 2 2 1 1
ChhotaUdepur 4 4 2 2
Dahod 7 7 3 4
Mahisagar 2 2 1 1
Narmada 5 4 2 2
Navsari 2 2 1 1
Panch Mahals 1 1 1
Sabar Kantha 3 3 1 2
Surat 4 4 2 2
Tapi 5 3 3
The Dangs 3 3 2 1
Vadodara 1 1 1
Valsad 3 3 2 1
Total 47 44 26 18
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